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Verizon Wireless is planning to install cellphone antennas on top of buildings in Burlington's Old North End, but the city is less than enthusiastic, calling the project "visual litter" in documents submitted to the state.

"We think that they could do a better job of making them blend into the development pattern and character of the neighborhood, and we're encouraging them to do that," said David E. White, director of planning and zoning, in an interview.

Verizon says the 12 panels will improve cell coverage in the Old North End and provide "much better" network speeds, according to testimony submitted to the state by AJ Lanpher, a radio frequency design engineer.

The company is planning to install the antennas on top of Silversmith Commons, buildings under construction by Redstone that will have apartments and retail space.

As a telecommunications project, the cell antenna proposal falls under the authority of the state Public Service Board, which has not yet made a decision.

Burlington outlined its concerns in documents submitted to the Public Service Board last month, arguing that the antennas are "grotesquely apparent, and increase the real and perceived building height of the three story building."

"They introduce visual litter which is not screened, designed within the building envelop, or concealed in any manner," wrote attorney Kimberly Sturtevant, who represents Burlington. The city had been notified of the project in June, including images of the proposed antennas.

The city also questioned whether the location on North Winooski Avenue was "the most functionally appropriate site."

In response to the city's questions, Verizon has taken the "highly unusual step" of installing a temporary demonstration of what the antennas would look like, according to an email from Verizon spokesman Michael Murphy.

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Paul Schnabel, left, and Howard Dolan oppose the installation of cell phone antennas on the top of buildings on North Winooski Avenue. Dolan’s property is adjacent to the site.
(Photo:
APRIL BURBANK/FREE PRESS
)

Developer Erik Hoekstra of Redstone said he has worked with Verizon to minimize the aesthetic impacts of the antennas.

"Everybody wants to have great cellphone service everywhere they go," Hoekstra said. "Nobody wants to look at cellphone antennas."

Hoekstra was told that Verizon had been struggling to find a place for the antennas in the Old North End for about a decade before deciding that the North Winooski Avenue location met its criteria.

The move has riled neighbors who are worried about the project's health impacts.

Howard Dolan, who lives next to the building, sent a letter to the Public Service Board outlining his concerns. He and fellow neighbor Paul Schnabel said they are both concerned about the health impacts of possible radiation from the project.

Verizon says that even under the "most extreme assumptions," the project would emit radio frequency much lower than Federal Communications Commission limits, according to testimony by AJ Lanpher, a radio frequency design engineer.

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Cell antenna prototypes have been installed on the roof of apartment buildings on North Winooski Avenue in Burlington. If approved by the state, Verizon Wireless says the project will improve network coverage.
(Photo:
APRIL BURBANK/FREE PRESS
)

Dolan is also bothered that the antennas were not included in the plans for the building that were submitted to the city.

"It never would've happened if I had known there were towers proposed in it," Dolan said.

Hoekstra said Verizon did not approach Redstone about the possibility of the antennas until after the project had gone through Burlington permitting, but the antennas would not have appeared in city plans because they are outside the city's purview.

Verizon said it plans to meet with Burlington to take feedback about the mock-up antennas.

Murphy, the spokesman, said Verizon plans to eventually increase network capacity fivefold in the Burlington area.

Contact April Burbank at (802) 660-1863 or aburbank@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AprilBurbank